Vote For Control

May 11, 1986

On May 20 voters who now live along the DeLand city limits will vote whether to annex their 13 1/2 square miles of land into DeLand. Looking at the services that the county and DeLand can provide -- from police to water -- shows that annexation is the best choice for this area.

Taxes are not an issue. Under DeLand's plan, these county residents would pay about the same amount in taxes if they join the city. Getting these additional residents would allow DeLand to cut current city residents' property taxes in half.

But opponents argue that they live in the county by choice and prefer the lifestyle that goes with a more removed county government. The reality, however, is that these residents already get services from the city because they live so close to its borders. DeLand now provides these residents with fire protection, sewer and water lines.

Annexation also would give residents better police protection. Sheriff Ed Duff has repeatedly told residents in unincorporated Deltona that he cannot offer them crime prevention measures -- such as increased patrols -- that police departments such as DeLand's do.

Opponents who argue that cities are likely to encourage dense development need only see what the county allowed in the Four Townes area. Poorly planned development and inadequate roads make the area a traffic nightmare. Uncontrolled growth can happen anywhere governments do not have sufficient services to handle growth. DeLand's annexation plan provides for those services.

The futures of these neighborhoods already are intertwined with DeLand's future, because of proximity and the services the city provides. Residents can exercise control over that future with annexation.